Standing next to one of the best high school volleyball players in the country has a little bit of a ying and yang to it. First, it can be a little intimidating. Second, comes the pressure of trying to live up to such high standards.
That’s the ying. The yang comes when you step out of the shadow and make a name for yourself. And that’s exactly what Kate Maley has been able to accomplish.
Maley, only a junior, was one of the top volleyball players in the state and helped lead the Eagles to another conference title and a deep run in the state playoffs.
So, let’s start with what it’s like playing next to Harper Murray.
“Harper is one of the most encouraging and hardworking players on the court,” says Maley of her famous teammate, who is heading to Nebraska for college. “She is always pushing each teammate to rise to their fullest potential by giving constant feedback and tips.”
And there is more.
“She has great humor on the court that brings everyone together and ensures the practices and games will be fun,” Maley continued. “She taught me to always work hard and work until the very last point.”
Maley has taken those lessons to the next level and has made a name for herself. She was All-SEC First Team and a dominant force everytime she stepped on the floor.
“This past season we had a lot of people on the team that were new to varsity,” Maley says. “So we had to work extra hard to build relationships on and off the court and learn to trust each other. As the season moved along, we made large strides and came together as one.”
They sure did. The Eagles, once again, were one of the top teams in the state. They won a District title before falling to Okemos 3-2 in the Regionals at Woodhaven HS.
“The personality of the team this season was definitely outgoing,” Maley says. “Everyone bonded quickly and made great friendships. The personality of this team was determined. We had full commitment from everyone at all times, with a mindset that we can go as far as we want.”
Maley began her volleyball career in rec and ed leading up to high school.
“When freshman year began I decided to try out for Skyline volleyball,” she says. “I had watched a lot of their games before I started playing, and I knew it would be a place I would fit into and love.”
Maley played JV her first year at Skyline, “setting” the stage for big things to come.
“After spending about three quarters of the season on JV, I was moved up to varsity for playoffs,” she said. “That’s when I started to get really excited about volleyball and that’s when I decided to play club.”
Maley was a starter on varsity as a sophomore and part of an “extremely special team.”
“It was my first time making it to the final four, which has been the highlight of my Skyline volleyball career so far,” she said. “I grew a tremendous amount as a player and could not have done it without my coaches Chris Chrisian and Erin Keller.”
Maley says volleyball is special because of the “friendships and bonds” that are created on and off the court. “I had played other sports before volleyball and none of them had a culture like this one,” she says. “The high energy on the court is what makes a game fun and successful.”
She says her time at Skyline has been amazing. Of course, it helps to win a lot.
“Over the past three years at Skyline, there have been really special leaders on the team,” she says. “Numerous people have stepped up and made a huge impact on the program. Having leadership like we have had on the court is what brings us together as a team and takes us far in the playoffs.”
Maley also plays for Legacy Volleyball Club on the 17-1 Adidas team.
“This is my third year playing club and I have been at Legacy ever since I started,” she said. “It has been the perfect fit for me and a huge part of my life these past few years. I have made my best friends there, had amazing coaching and grown as a person.”
Kate, 16, is the daughter of Becky and Eric Maley. She has a 3.8 GPA, is on DECA and the Democratic Club and enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, trying new foods and traveling. She hopes to play at the next level and find a school that has a healthy balance between school and volleyball.
“I am open to the idea of any location or size in a school,” she says. “The recruiting process is going well. I’m still deciding on what would be a good fit for me and focusing on building connections with coaches.”
